4 killed in U.S. drone strike in NW Pakistan

08:45, March 22, 2013

ISLAMABAD, March 22 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed and one other was injured on Thursday night in a U.S. drone attack in Pakistan's northwestern tribal region of North Waziristan, local media reported.

According to the reports, the U.S. unmanned plane targeted a house in Datta Khel area of North Waziristan, Pakistan's restive tribal region bordering Afghanistan. The drone fired two missiles at the house that killed four people present inside while leaving one other injured.

The strike destroyed the house completely besides making cracks in the nearby buildings.

Soon after the attack local people rushed to the site and started rescue work as there is no official rescue service available in the area.

Thursday's strike is the second in the current month. Earlier on March 10, a U.S. drone targeted a house in the Tehsil Boya area of the same region and killed two persons.

It is also the 10th strike of its kind in Pakistan's northwestern tribal areas since the start of the current year, killing 64 people in total including two Al-Qaeda linked commanders.

U.S.-led NATO forces fighting in Afghanistan claim that Pakistan's bordering areas especially North Waziristan and South Waziristan are the safe havens for the militants who allegedly attack NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has been protesting and expressing its reservations over such attacks, terming them as the violation of its sovereignty but U.S. authorities considered it a useful strategy to hit militants hiding in hilly areas.